All-round contributions from Shakib, Wellalage and Wickramsinghe’s 15-ball 43 lead Jaffna Kings to playoffs

• Jaffna Kings came out on top in a high-scoring game producing a 421-run aggregate: Kings also produced the highest team total of the season
• Wellalage and Shakib took three-fors to defend their 221-run total by 21 runs
• Galle Gallants and Colombo Kaps have eight points each besides Kings’ 10; Last-placed Dambulla Sixers can qualify by displacing Royals if they beat Kings by a good margin

Jaffna Kings registered a 21-run victory over Kandy Royals in 18th match of the Lanka Premier League 2026 in Pallekele International cricket Stadium, after posting 221/6, the highest total of the ongoing season.

Chasing 222, Kandy Royals got off to a flying start as Lahiru Udara and Pawan Sandesh powered them to 80/1 in the powerplay, reducing the required run rate to 10.1. Udara, the tournament’s leading run-scorer, made 30 off 15 balls before falling to Shakib Al Hasan, while Pawan contributed 48 off 21 hitting five fours and four sixes.

The only half-century stand of the innings came between Pawan and Kusal Perera before Shakib returned to dismiss the latter. Zahoor Khan then accounted for Pawan to leave Kandy at 101/3 in 8.3 overs.

Kandy remained in the contest through useful contributions from Vijay Shankar (25 off 21, 3 fours), Shaheen Afridi (24 off 14, 2 fours, 2 sixes) and Wanindu Hasaranga (24 off 12, 3 sixes), but regular wickets prevented them from building another substantial partnership.

Dilshan Madushanka then sealed the win with a wicket maiden in the final over, dismissing Shankar off the last ball as Kandy finished 21 runs short. Hasaranga became Shakib’s third wicket.

Wellalage removed Shaheen and Dale Phillips in the 14th over and Dushan Hemantha in 18th to take 2 for 11 in two overs.

Earlier, Jaffna Kings made a blistering start, racing to 79/0 in the powerplay before Kandy’s spinners fought back. Zahoor Khan, Moeen Ali and Hasaranga picked up wickets at regular intervals to reduce Jaffna to 112/3 in 11 overs.

Bhanuka Rajapaksa and Towhid Hridoy added 22 runs off 18 balls to steady the innings, but both fell as Jaffna slipped to 142/5 in 15 overs. Kamil Mishara (49 off 26, 2x4s, 5x6s) fell one short of fifty, while Avishka Fernando added 36 off 22.

The innings was transformed during the Power Blast overs as Chamindu Wickramasinghe launched a stunning counterattack at n0.7. He smashed 34 runs across the 16th and 17th overs before adding another six and four against Shaheen Afridi in the 18th over alongside Shakib Al Hasan (22 not out off 16, 1 four, 1 six).

Wickramasinghe’s innings ended after a blazing 59-run partnership off just 23 balls with Shakib, while Wellalage added 16 off 9 as Jaffna finished on a commanding 221/6.

Hasaranga and Moeen picked up two wickets each.

Brief Scores

Jaffma Kings won by 21 runs

Jaffna Kings: 221/6 (20)

Kamil Mishara: 49 (26)
Chamindu Wickramasinghe: 43 (15)
Avishka Fernando 36 (22)
Shakib Al Hasann 22* (16)

Wanindu Hasaranga: 2/37 (4)
Moeen Ali: 2/38 (4)

Kandy Royals: 200/10 (20)

Pawan Sandesh: 48 (21)
Lahiru Udara: 30 (15)
Vijay Shankar 25 (21)

Dunith Wellalage: 3/11 (2)
Shakib al Hasan: 3/43 (4)
Zahoor Khan 2/32 (4)
Dilshan Madushanka 2/36 (4)

Player of the match – Chamindu Wickramsinghe